Composer

:

Arnold Schoenberg

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1929

Average_duration

:

9:40

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Arnold Schoenberg's "Folksongs (3)" is a composition for mixed chorus and piano, composed in 1949. The piece was premiered on May 22, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Roger Wagner. The composition consists of three movements, each based on a different folk song. The first movement, "Es gingen zwei Gespielen gut," is a German folk song that tells the story of two friends who go out into the world to seek their fortunes. The second movement, "Ach, wie ist's möglich dann," is an Austrian folk song that laments the difficulty of finding true love. The third movement, "Es sungen drei Engel," is a German Christmas carol that tells the story of the angels who announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Schoenberg's setting of these folk songs is characterized by his use of complex harmonies and dissonant chords, which create a sense of tension and unease. The choral parts are often divided into multiple voices, creating a rich and complex texture. The piano accompaniment is similarly complex, with frequent changes in rhythm and texture. Despite the complexity of the music, Schoenberg's setting of these folk songs retains the simple, melodic quality of the original tunes. The result is a composition that is both challenging and accessible, and that showcases Schoenberg's unique approach to choral music.

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